Tuesday, April 22, 2008

One of my sad little secrets is that I hate getting my children's pictures taken. Sure I take snapshots of them all the time but getting them bathed, dressed and marched down to the portrait studio at the mall just so I can pay Hannah Montana behind the camera beaucoup bucks to capture them grimacing in unison hasn't been high on my priorities list.

Inevitably we get there and one of the kids has dried gum on their lips, has forgot their tie or has decorated their neck with temporary tattoos the night before. Oh, and there was the time that Spencer wanted to see what would happen if he stuck the tube from the central vacuum to his cheek while it was sucking. Three words: world's largest hickey.

It just seemed to tempt fate whenever a picture was scheduled--and don't get me started on school photos, I didn't even order them this year.

So a family picture? Never. We've had casual shots taken of all of us together but we've never gone to a studio for the real thing. Would you hate me if I confessed that I'd have probably gone my entire life without having a family portrait taken and never cared?

But we happen to have a friend who is amazing with a camera who owns Stanton Photography here in Anchorage. He's taken pictures of most of my extended family and done a terrific job so I thought that maybe--just maybe--it would be a good thing for us too. You know, nice for the grandparents and all that. If anyone could could catch us with all of our eyes open at the same time he could.

On the day of the sitting I was busy talking with one of the adults in the room in between groupings when I happened to look up while he was shooting Grace and Lillian together. All at once I had a mushy Mom Moment where I saw my two sweet little girls in that beautiful lighting looking so pretty and I got a little tear in my eye. Yes, a bona fide tear.

So this proves, after all, that I do not have a heart of stone (it also probably proves that real photographers make all the difference). I just love how the pictures turned out, they're beautiful. Maybe there's something to having a family portrait after all.

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Thanks to all who entered the Saucy Frocks giveaway this weekend--my but the aprons were popular! I had people offering me cookies and all sorts of affection should I pick their name but Heather of Fort Mill, South Carolina had the good luck to win this time. But don't worry, I've already got great gear lined up to give away all through the next month!

I love the way that the photos turned out! That photo of your girls is adorable. I am dying over the little one and her total resemblance to "Madeline" with that hair cut and bow! Too cute! (Except her book would have to start out, "In a recently remodeled house in Alaska that was covered with snow..." (Hee)

Those pictures are amazing!!! I think you'll treasure those for years!

My family hated portraits as well. But we had one taken just before my wedding. One month later, my dad passed away -- and now we all treasure that portrait like you wouldn't believe! My mom says it was one of the best decisions she ever made! (Otherwise our last family picture would have been when I was 13. Not a good memory for me to display on the wall!)

Hi,Okay, I swear I'm NOT just sayin' this to make your day...but Scribbit, you're stunning! (And hubby's no slouch either.)Being a mom of four as well, I sure can relate to the whole 'professional photography thingy'. Good job though. They're lovely, and so is that family of yours.

Nice photography and beautiful family! So nice, in fact, I had to visit the photographer's site and spent the next half-hour looking at more beautiful photos and wishing I lived in Alaska so I could make an appointment. Oh, and the background music on the site wasn't bad either!

Those are gorgeous photos! We've usually been good about getting them done, but I'm way late with spring photos this year. Mainly because Becca had an all out panic attack the last time I tried taking her in a studio, so I'm hesitant to even try again. At least until she's older. :)

The photos are really lovely. My kids are grown now and I can remember that photo taking day, it was horrible!

You know what? When I look back at all of our family photos which mean tons of pics, I don't even like the studio shots. The ones I really love are the candid shots of my kids blowing bubbles or with hand crafted disguises (grocery bags with eye holes cut out).... just the everyday stuff of life.

What beautiful photos! You have a beautiful family. I used to have my children's portraits done every year at Christmas, but we haven't quite made it for the past couple... It was just put back on the Must-Do List! Thanks!

Love the family photos! I haven't had a family portrait in a long time. I only have two kids, but getting nice semi-go together clothing and taking the time to go to the studio is like a trip to the dentist and I just don't want to do it!!! I keep thinking I'll get it together and go. Maybe I will after looking at your girls. They are beautiful!

Chris--you made me chuckle because funny enough the week Andrew and I were scheduled for our engagement photo I had a mountain biking accident and smashed up my face. Stitches, broken cheek, the whole thing so you're pretty much right about Murphy's Law.

That's funny-I was just on his website last night. We are coming up this summer and I wanted to get our family picture taken while we were there. Your pictures are beautiful. I hope ours turn out as well.

I did NOT want to have my picture taken. I truly take horrible pictures. Fact of life. But for my family's sake I gulped down my terror and did it a couple of years ago. Not bad. Then horrors I had to do it for an HGTV/Terminex photo shoot. I won 25 grand so who was I to say no? LMBO Two great pictures and my girls really love them. But no more. Really.

We don't do family photos either. You see, my husband IS a photographer, thereby proving the old adage that cobblers' children go barefoot and dr's kids are always sick and mechanics drive old beaters that constantly break down...

What a beautiful family! I got a little tear myself over the two girls together. We did a family portrait just over 2 years ago when DeBoy was about 4 months old, but I haven't had decent hair since then, so I've stuck with just their birthday portraits.

What a handsome family, and the picture of the girls together really look wonderful! We are seeing our friend who is a photographer this weekend and having our Little Guy's picture taken - it is so nice to have someone who you know is good behind the camera.

Funny, my parents are big believers in formal portraits but my husband and I think they're boring. Not to mention the near impossibility of getting a preschooler and a toddler to sit still, let alone smile, for a photography session. But I do sign the kids up for Picture Day at daycare (I buy just one package and have them photographed together) and it's always worth it - especially since I'm not the one who has to keep them happy and still!

I have to say, though, that your family's photos have got me wanting some of my own family. Maybe when the kids are a little bit older (and my youngest can be bribed with a reward to sit & smile).

It is funny I feel the same. I take thousands and thousands of candid photos of my kids......but I hate the sit down portraits. To me they always seem to fake and somber. WE only have two done in 14 years. I should do another one. I want to do it myself outdoors. I know exactly the look that I want. I am going to try it on my own first.Having said all that, I do love your family portraits!Gorgeous family!

Oh Michelle! These are lovely! You've inspired me to get another family portrait done. We go every so often...the last one J was barely walking and now you can't keep up with him so I'm thinking it's probably time. I think for a change of pace we'll do an outdoor shot with the mountains in the background...as soon as my money tree blooms. ;)